Less subtle cycling commentators claimed that even the rainbow jersey curse couldn’t discourage Rui Costa from trying to defend his 2013 Worlds title, as it would prevent him from wearing a truly unique Lampre-Merida outfit in the next season. The witty Portuguese eventually failed in his attempt, but Italian team manager Brent Copeland claims that they will continue to build a tight-knitted team around him and support his Tour de France ambitions in 2015.

Costa experienced a season of ups and downs in 2014, winning his favourite Tour de Suisse for the third consecutive year as well as performing well in the Volta ao Algarve and Paris-Nice, but failing to live-up to his team’s expectations in the Tour de France, his biggest objective along with Worlds title defense.

Lampre-Merida manager believes, however, that below-par performance of the 27-year old Portuguese at the Tour, concluded with his withdrawal before 16 stage kicked off, was only due to a bronchitis he suffered. Thus, Copeland is convinced to back Costa’s ambitions in the upcoming edition of the French event and wants to surround him with a team better suited to support his needs.

“He’s a rider for the Tour that you can work around,” Lampre’s team manager, Brent Copeland told Cycling Weekly.

“He doesn’t need to improve that much, but we need to improve our team around him. We have better idea of what his needs are for the next Grand Tour that we do with him as a captain. Next year, will bring on board men who can sit in the wind for him. You have to start looking a year before to build towards a Tour top three. It’s a long process.”